You may not know that Portland Green Parenting offers organic and natural, non-toxic, chemical free mattresses, pillows and bedding. We are very proud to work with a company called White Lotus Home. Their natural and organic mattresses are available in standard sizes, but the talented seamstresses and mattress makers at WLH can also be custom make mattresses, cushions and pillows to your specifications. (We actually had our own couch's cushions recently replaced with custom made ones from WLH, and they did an amazing job!)

Why is it so important to have a chemical free bed?

Conventional mattresses are constructed of petroleum based foams and treated with fire-retardant chemicals, which unfortunately are toxic to humans and the environment. We then unsuspectingly sleep on these mattresses, breathing in the toxic chemicals that off gas for months, if not years. The damage to our bodies can devastating. These chemicals can potentially hurt the central nervous system, internal organs, brain function and more. The toxins can cross the placenta on pregnant mothers and enter the breastmilk of nursing mothers. They have been found in newborn babies' cord blood. It is so sad and scary that the very place we spend about 8 hours a day sleeping, relaxing, and cuddling our loved ones is actually poisoning our bodies and our babies-- sometimes even before they are born!

According to a report released by Environment California Research and Policy Center (ECRPC), one of the most widely used (and widely studied) classes of fire-retardant chemicals used on the surfaces we sleep on are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which have been rapidly accumulating in humans, posing potentially significant health risks. PBDEs are similar in makeup to PCBs—their chemical cousins that have been banned for nearly three decades, because they cause immune suppression, endrocrine disruption, cancer, and behavioral problems, among other ill effects. According to the ECRPC report, exposure to PBDEs may be especially harmful to infants and fetuses, with human studies revealing that these compounds accumulate in breast milk. PBDE levels in the breast milk of Americans are reported to be up to 66 times higher than in that of Swedes. In February 2003, the European Union officially banned the use of some varieties of PBDEs in electronics, effective mid-2004, with more bans anticipated.

In addition, as conventional mattress get older, the petroleum based foams begin to break down into dust that gets airborne and pollutes your home. This dust, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), get worse with age. 

Buying an organic mattress is an important decision and a wise investment in your health as well as the well-being of our planet, and we want to help you select the right mattress for your family!

The beds Portland Green Parenting sells are made from organic or green cotton, natural latex, a water based non-off gassing foam called Ultracel, and are wrapped in wool. Wool is a natural flame retardant, as well as naturally antibacterial. It also regulates your body temperature, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Latex is naturally mold, mildew and dust mite resistant. These mattresses are comfortable, durable, and most important-- they are a safe, healthy choice for you and your family. We have many different styles to choose from, and will happily work with you to find the perfect mattress for your family!